Per diem nursing

oceanblue52 · Feb 21, 2017

The only way I managed it in nursing school was to request training on my days off and then call in sick one day at my regular job. Definitely something to plan ahead for, especially if you have to fit in time sensitive drug screenings, physicals, etc.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 21, 2017

Emphasis added is mine.

My question is how do people get per diem jobs? I applied to one and they told me its 3 days training. (I didn't get the job bc I had no experience which was ok).

Which is why as a rule new grads or those without experience in the specialty should not pursue per-diem jobs. Hospitals expect their per-diems to already have a good knowledge base, so any training is pretty much a few days of "here's where everything is and how we do things", and then you're cut loose and expected to take off running.

Also, per-diem is not the place to learn New Grad Nursing 101/master a new specialty because there's not enough support and stability. You won't have an established perceptor to be there when things get tough, you probably won't have the stability of staying on one unit to get used to things, and not a single one of your hours is guaranteed. You could work a lot, work a little, or not work at all.

How do you get a per diem nursing job when you already work full time?

Same way as you get any other job: find one and apply for it.

However, keep in mind that many per-diem jobs have minimum commitments, i.e., you have to make yourself available for X hours each pay period. You may not necessarily be scheduled to work all those hours--in fact, it's possible that you won't have any hours scheduled at all--but you have to make those hours available. If you're already working full-time, a per-diem job is going to cut into your free time. And last, your full-time employer isn't going to be that willing to work around your per-diem commitments, and the reverse is true as well.

Was as it just this place that had 3 days of training or is this typical?

Short-training periods--a few shifts--for per-diems is typical. Occasionally, you get lucky and find a place with a more extensive training: my first job gave per-diems the same training and orientation period as their full-time hires. But don't expect a multi-month residency-type of training for a per-diem spot.

I plan on applying for more per diem jobs once I get a bit of experience and am just trying to plan ahead.

Nothing wrong with doing that! But IMO, if you are a new grad and/or have no nursing experience, focus on finding a full-time job that will give you enough training and stability to start building your knowledge base. Then worry about finding per-diem work.

Best of luck!